Cruel When He Smiles

Sinners of Blackthorne U, Book 3

By: Avery Collins

Narrated by: Gregory Salinas, Simon Kim

Liam Callahan likes to break things... and Nate Carter was made to be broken.

Liam

I was trained not to feel. Taught to observe, manipulate, and control.

Nothing prepared me for Nate Carter.

He's stubborn and beautiful in his resistance. The harder he fights, the deeper I sink my teeth in. I engineered the therapy sessions so I could get closer and watch him unravel. To dissect his fire and watch him spiral from the inside out.

But Nate is fury wrapped in lace, and he makes me feel things I was never meant to feel.

Want. Possession. Hunger.

Now, I can't stop. Not until he's mine; broken, rebuilt, and burning just for me.

Nate

I knew Liam Callahan was dangerous the moment I met him.

Too perfect. Too polished. Too in control.

They said the anger management sessions were routine, but nothing about Liam is routine. He gets into your head with softness, pulls you apart with praise, and leaves you craving the pain he caused.

So why do I keep going back?

I don't know what's real anymore…what's me, and what's Liam's design.

Cruel When He Smiles is the third book in the interconnected Sinners of Blackthorne U series, but it is a complete standalone.

Contains mature content. A complete list of content warnings can be found on the author's website.

©2025 Avery Collins (P)2026 Podium Audio

Wow!!!

This series is amazing! This book is bizarre, who knew parents could be so deranged.... Two broken boys who find a love that's just for themselves. Love this series!!

very dark but good

this book was very good but it took me a minute to catch on as to what was going on but when I did it was really great. this book is very dark and triggering even if you don't have triggers you will develop them because of all the mind games of the parents and the main characters. again pretty dark but I will definitely say worth it.

Obsessed

I love everything about this book and series. Audio was amazing! So well done. Loved it!

Least favorite of this series

This book was nothing like the others in this series. Very slow and unrealistic. I am sad because I was so excited for it to be released but barely got more than half way through. I had to finally stop listening. I will try to finish it another time. I wish it was more energetic and better plot because I really loved the other two books.